P.O. Box 24378  New Orleans, LA 70184   504.324.2270
 

The Board of Commissioners

of the

Orleans Levee District

                                                                                                                                      6920 Franklin Ave                                                                                      TEL. 504-286-3100

                                                                                                                                New Orleans, LA 70122                                                                               Fax. 504-286-3188

May 10, 2006

Mr. Dale Stastny

Executive Vice President/CAO

Audubon Nature Institute

6500 Magazine Street

New Orleans, LA 700118

Via E-mail and U.S. mail

Dear Mr. Stastny:

Thank you for the opportunity to present the Orleans Levee District’s plans for restoring and revitalizing Lakeshore Drive.  First, however, I would like take this opportunity to describe the current condition of the lakefront area.   Lakeshore Drive, which is used and visited by thousands of our citizens and tourists alike, really took a beating from Hurricane Katrina.  The seawall, which is approximately five point two (5.2) miles long, stretches from the historic Light House and curves and bends all the way to the Senator Ted Hickey Bridge at the Industrial Canal.  The grassy area extending from directly behind the seawall to the roadway has suffered washout damage so severe that the District has closed much of that area to the public due to safety concerns.  The only exceptions are four sections that the District opened so that the public can fish, crab, and just sit and relax on the seawall and enjoy the beauty of the lake.  These sections are in the following locations: 1) the corner by old light house, 2) Orleans Avenue Canal, 3) London Avenue Canal, and 4) the area closest to the industrial Canal. 

As far as the south side of Lakeshore Drive, the grassy picnic area between the levee and the roadway also received heavy damage.  The four shelter houses are shells of what they used to be and had to be fenced off because of safety issues.  The damage also forced the District to fence off the children’s play spots along Lakeshore Drive.  In addition, many of the old oaks and pine trees either fell or were in danger of falling, and therefore had to be removed.   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and FEMA contributed greatly to this effort.  In doing so, it left huge holes where the root balls ripped through the soil or where the stumps had to be removed.  In order to keep this area opened to the public, the District’s grounds crews did a commendable job in identifying, filling and repairing the grounds.  On Sundays, Pre-Katrina, the lakefront area would have upwards of twenty to thirty thousand people relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.

The hurricane levees along the Lakeshore performed very well and sustained little to no damage.  What is believed to have helped the earthen lakefront levee is the concrete seawall which took the initial brunt of the storm surge.  If not for the concrete seawall acting as a breakwater, the levees would have been battered by the tremendous and continuous wave action.  As it stands right now, the seawall is not part of the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Plan (LPHVPP).  The Orleans Levee District, with the support of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, is in the process of petitioning the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to have the seawall added to the overall hurricane protection plan.  There is no doubt that the concrete seawall is the first line of protection, and had the seawall not been there, the levee would have had to be built wider and higher.

The Seabrook Boat Launch and the Frank Davis Fishing Pier are closed to the public because of severe washout under the roadbed and the total destruction of the fishing pier.

Lights are currently out along lakeshore Drive due to serious damage to underground wiring and poles.

Finally, the Mardi Gras Fountain is inoperable at this time and has received moderate damage, mostly due to electrical problems.

Restoration and Revitalization of the Lakefront

The Orleans Levee District is committed to the restoration of all properties owned and operated by the District and especially the lakefront.  The current plan is to bring back the lakefront area to its pre-Katrina splendor.  The District has received responses to an RFQ for Architects and Engineers to begin the design phase for repairs.  The funds for the restoration will come from FEMA (90% federal and 10% local) and insurance reimbursements.  The District has submitted damage claims to FEMA totaling almost $100 million dollars.  The roadway, seawall area, boat launch and fishing pier will be reimbursed by FEMA. The four shelter houses, fifteen pavilions, and the Mardi Gras Fountain will be covered by insurance.

The current plan is to backfill the areas behind the seawall.  The USACE is providing some dredged fill material removed from the three outfall/drainage canal closure projects.  Most, if not all, of the electrical wiring and conduit for the lighting will need replacing.  FEMA has generated two project worksheets for mitigation work that will hopefully prevent several areas between the roadway and seawall from being washed out in the future.  The shelter houses will be restored to their pre-Katrina look and functionality, the roadway will be repaired or replaced as necessary, and the boat launch and Frank Davis pier will be restored and repaired for public use.  The green space between the levee and roadway will be filled and graded, as needed, to insure proper drainage.  Should the seawall be made part of the LPVHPP, further erosion control measures will be taken by the USACE.   Currently, plans call for the Mardi Gras Fountain to be repaired; however, this project is a lower priority.  The areas having the greatest impact on public safety will have the highest priority.

The approximate time frame is as follows:

1.      Roadway - 9 to 12 months ⁽¹⁾

2.      Area behind seawall  to the roadway - 9 to 12 months⁽¹⁾

3.      Electrical – 3 to 4 months ⁽¹⁾

4.      Shelter houses and pavilions - 6 to 8 months⁽¹⁾ 

5.      Frank Davis Pier and Boat Launch - 6 to 9 months⁽¹⁾

6.      Grassy area between levee and roadway—repairs ongoing

7.      Mardi Gras Fountain – no time frame set

⁽¹⁾ Once construction work begins

In closing, the Orleans Levee District stands ready to bring the lakefront area back for our citizens to enjoy.  Many of us in our 40’s and 50’s have fond memories of trips to the lakefront with our parents and grandparents.  Those days for many were “normal times”, and the District wants to lead the way in providing a semblance of normalcy to our citizens by restoring the lakefront. 

Again, thank you for this opportunity, and if I can be of further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 286-3100, ext.1004.

I remain,

            Sincerely,

    /s/ Louis J. Capo

Louis J. Capo, Director

Real Estate, Recreational and Non Flood Assets

xc:       Hon. Michael P McCrossen, President OLD

            Stevan G. Spencer, Director, Hurricane and Flood Protection